BACK across the dismal land through which she had led the Princess, flitted the Earth Fairy. Freed though she now was from her long imprisonment, she yet hoped for even greater liberty. When Flying Soot had told her that the Veil had power to disenchant the Princess, she felt sure that it would have a like magic influence over herself; that if she could but obtain it, and cast it about her that she should once more become a true Earth Fairy.[107] Should this come to pass, she would flee forever from the Land of Fire which she so hated, to her own people and her own home.

Therefore she determined to go in search of the Prince, and by means of her wands wrest from him the coveted Veil. She knew that it would soon be discovered that Princess White Flame was no longer in her father’s kingdom, and she believed that Prince Radiance would then come to seek the Princess in the Land of the Evil Fairies. She herself would be in wait for him near the boundary and would endeavor to overpower him there.

So rapidly did she journey that she soon reached the borders of the Land of the Fire Fairies, and began to watch for the coming of the Prince.

Some time had passed before she beheld[108] a scarlet cloaked figure approaching, looking eagerly on all sides, as if in search of someone. From what Flying Soot had told her she knew that it was Prince Radiance. She crept to meet him, concealing herself cleverly from sight as she went.

When she was but a short distance from him she stopped and opened her bundle of wands. She had taken out the Green Wand, and was about to use it, when she paused. Well did she know that she had none other so powerful, none other that could so fully work her will. By this she held the Princess completely under her sway. Upon the Prince she was unwilling to risk it unless all else failed. She laid it back among the rest and took up another that she had always trusted. Waving it toward the Prince she murmured the[109] words of a spell so potent that she expected to see him fall instantly to the ground unable to speak or to move. But it was as though the spell had never been uttered. The Prince continued on his way as before, and the Earth Fairy knew by this that all power had departed from her wand. She cast it away, and selecting another without hesitation, she followed close after him, repeating the words of her spell. This time also, the spell was of no avail; the second wand became as useless as the first, and was discarded in its turn.

“Truly there must be magic in this that will overpower him,” she muttered, taking out the third. “Never before has this one failed me.” Yet the third wand had no more power than the rest. One by one, she tried them all, until there was none left but the Green Wand. She[110] looked at it longingly, but dared not risk it. Should it too be useless before this mysterious influence that protected the Prince she would have nothing at all by which to work her will.

She ceased to follow Prince Radiance, and sat down to think of what she should do in order to carry out her purpose.

Pondering deeply, she did not know that someone had approached her from behind, and was standing close beside her. It was Flying Soot. He waited a few moments but finding that the Earth Fairy was too much engaged to be aware of his presence, he tapped her upon the arm. “Well, my good friend,” he began, “how have your affairs prospered since you left me so abruptly in the palace gardens?”

The Earth Fairy looked up with a[111] start. No one had been further from her thoughts than Flying Soot.

“Do not disturb me,” she answered impatiently, “I am thinking over an important matter in which you can be of no use to me.”

“Do not be too certain of that,” the Soot Fairy replied. “Remember that you are now in a land where I have many and powerful friends.”

The Earth Fairy had not realized that. At his words, she suddenly began to wonder if some of these wicked fairies of which he spoke, might be able to help her to obtain what she so desired. Instantly she changed her tone.

“Hark you,” she said, “I believe you told me of a magic Veil that the Prince was to obtain from the Wise One. I have decided that I want this Veil for myself. I have tried all my wands upon[112] the Prince in an effort to take it from him, but they have failed. One alone I have not tried. It is the Green Wand which rules the Princess White Flame. This I am unwilling to risk—for the present at least. Have you, perhaps, among your friends, any who is sufficiently powerful to overcome Prince Radiance, so that I can take from him this Veil?”

Flying Soot threw back his black mantle from his shoulder with a confident gesture. “To be sure I have,” he assured her, “and if the first should not succeed there are many others who would be willing to try.”